# NTSB SEA04LA028: Aviat A-1B, N290AM, Hailey, ID, December 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 2003, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Hailey, ID - Coordinates: 43.504722, -114.296669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5047&lon=-114.2967&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58500 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58500/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent group loop and the collapse of the right main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis After landing on runway 13, the airplane initially veered to the left during its landing roll. The pilot then overcorrected to the right using too much right brake, and then overcorrected back to the left. This resulted in the right wing rising, the left main gear collapsing, and the left wing striking the runway surface. The airplane continued its rotation to the left, eventually coming to rest in an upright position. The pilot reported the wind at the time of the accident as being variable at 4 knots, while the local weather observation facility at the airport reported the wind being calm. ## Factual narrative On December 17, 2003, approximately 1620 mountain standard time, an Aviat A-1B single-engine airplane, N290AM, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing roll at the Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), Hailey, Idaho. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Jerome County Airport, Jerome, Idaho, at 1600, with SUN as its destination. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, and according to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he was given a downwind clearance to land on runway 13, and in his rush to "get out of the way [I] lost control on landing, causing a ground loop that damaged the gear and the wings." The pilot stated that after the landing the aircraft veered slightly to the left. The pilot stated that he then corrected to the right, but "I probably added too much right brake." The pilot further stated that his subsequent correction to the left caused the airplane's right wing to lift, resulting in substantial damage to the left main landing gear as it collapsed, and to the left wing which impacted the runway. The pilot reported the airplane continued turning to the left, coming to rest on the runway in an upright position on a heading of approximately 270 degrees. At 1620, the weather observation facility located at SUN reported the wind was calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N290AM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N290AM), registered now, S/N 2096 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A-1B - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2096 - Airframe hours: 250 - Engines: Lycoming IO 360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Keith B. Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 2003, 60 hours before - Departed: JER, Jerome Airport, ID - Destination: SUN - Airport: SUN, Friedman Memorial Airport, runway 13, 6,602 × 2,012 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 1, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 870 total, 265 in this make and model, 760 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Temperature: 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031217032299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031217032299A), Dec 17, 2003: Aviat A1B, Hailey, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot lost control during landing roll and ground looped the aircraft. Pilot reported that during landing roll the aircraft veered to the left, at which… ## Other investigations on N290AM (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB SEA02LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA188), Sep 8, 2002: Aviat A-1B (N290AM), Arco, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop. Factors include wind gusts during the period of time at which the landing took place. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.